With the success of Total War: Warhammer, there has been a renewed interest in the Old World that the game is set in. Ironically the Old World no longer ‘exists’, it having been destroyed in the end times and rebooted as Age of Sigmar. It is now euphemistically called ‘the world that was’. Before the end of the Old Old World (that makes perfect sense…), there were quite a few good novels and series depicting it; some of which you can still buy. Some of my favourites are:

This selection includes the best Warhammer 40k books that are on the market today. These picks of amazing fantasy novels and stories can serve as a good start to immerse into the atmosphere of great battles and brave warriors that won’t leave you indifferent. Rated List of Top 14 Warhammer 40k Books. See also the Top 5 Warhammer 40k Novels for the New Reader list The 10 Best Warhammer 40k Novels Horus Rising by Dan Abnett – Amazon. Whether you are a hardcore Warhammer 40k fan or brand new to the universe, Horus Rising by Dan Abnett is the place to begin. Taking place 10,000 years before the main 40k setting, this tale lays the. Warhammer Digital Warhammer Community Warhammer40000.com AgeofSigmar.com Blood Bowl Citadel Colour Warhammer World Investor Relations Jobs Retailers Golden Demon Armies on Parade Licensed Products Warhammer Alliance Press Room Warhammer Merchandise. These series are just the tip of the spear that is the Warhammer 40,000 lore. If you’re looking for a starting point these will point you in the right direction. We’re listing them in the order you want to read them with explanations why. Horus Heresy (The First Three Books) If you want a starting point: read these books. To understand the.

Gotrek and Felix (originally by William King)

The longest and best of series set in the Old World. I’m a particular connoisseur of the first set of novels written by the excellent William King.

The stories tell the tales of the Trollslayer Gotrek and his human companion Felix, who has sworn to record Gotrek’s deeds when/if he falls in battle. What follows is a series of increasingly incredible scenarios that manage to show off some of the best elements of the old world. We see everything from chaos cultists to Skaven and daemons to dragons. They are rip-roaring fun, easy to read and a great introduction to the setting.

I believe they are still all available on the Black Library as eBooks.

Zavant by Gordon Rennie

A left field one this and you can only find it on places like Amazon and eBay second-hand. It tells the tale of the great sage Zavant and his Halfling manservant Vido. The best way to describe it would simply be Sherlock in the Old World! The book is a series of short stories told as cases; my particular favourite being the one involving feuding vampires.

For something beyond the blood and mayhem of the old world, and instead something with a bit of urban adventure and mystery, Zavant is well worth a read.

Hammers of Ulric by Dan Abnett, Nik Vincent and James Wallis

This is the first ever Warhammer book I read (and the frist Dan Abnett one) and as such, it has a very special place in my heart. It isn’t the best novel I’ve ever read but it is still a damn good read. The book tells the story of the White Wolves of Middenheim and how they stop an evil threat to the city. It’s a great standalone adventure and another great urban tale in the Old World.

Available as an eBook on the Black Library website.

The Legend of Sigmar by Graham McNeill

The Sigmar Trilogy by Graham McNeill is possibly the best series of Warhammer novels that has ever been written. Each of the books is well-paced, easy to read and they tell possibly the most important story in the Old World without disappointing.

The series shows the rise of Sigmar from the son of the Unberogen King to becoming the Emperor. All the expected events are there; the tale of saving the Drawf King, the battle of Black Fire Pass and the war against Nagash…amongst so much more. All the main characters were well written and believable, particularly Sigmar’s closest companions such as Wulfgar.

Possibly the best compliment I can give the series is that they are a great read even if you aren’t interested in or know nothing about Warhammer. In their own right they are simply a great collection of fantasy literature.

You can buy the trilogy as an eBook on the Black Library Website.

The Rise of Nagash by Mike Lee

My final pick is this excellent trilogy from Mike Lee. The tone of this series is significantly different and darker to the others on this list. This is mainly due to it following the utterly evil Nagash, of whom you can’t really feel any empathy for. This doesn’t detract from the books but it can make it difficult to read at times. The style is also vastly different to almost any other novel/series set in the Old World; it is almost more akin to a story set in ancient Egypt.

Warhammer Books Wiki

As with the Sigmar Trilogy this is an excellent trilogy in it’s own right, without being tied to the Old World. If you want something a bit different from a Warhammer novel and/or have a thing for Nagash and the undead, this is an excellent trilogy of books.

Warhammer Books Horus Heresy Series

Available on the Black Library website as an eBook.

Best Warhammer Novels

If you liked this article, you may also be interested in The best Warhammer Old World Novels & Series – Part II